WEEK-48

Become Known as
a Class Act

AFFIRMATIONS

for

Meditation and Reflection

I am treating myself and others with dignity and respect, which creates a mutual feeling of love and appreciation.

I am acting with class by being courteous and grateful and always having a generous spirit.

I am treating others with high regard and making them feel nurtured and loved.

In every society, there are “human benchmarks”—certain individuals whose behavior becomes a model for everyone else—shining examples that others admire and emulate. We call these individuals “Class Acts.”

—DAN SULLIVAN
Cofounder and president of The Strategic Coach, Inc.

D
an Sullivan’s strategic coaching program1 teaches that we should do our best to act with class and be someone who attracts other people of class into our sphere of influence.

How can you stand out as a class act in a world where it’s more normal to be average? Here’s what Dan Sullivan says:

Develop high personal standards and then live by them. Demand more from yourself—no exceptions.
Operate from a larger, more inclusive perspective. Strive to be more understanding and compassionate of others.
Take 100% responsibility for your actions and your results. Class acts take responsibility for their actions instead of hiding, blaming others, or making excuses.
Add something of value in all situations. Pursue big goals that require you to grow. Bring value to the world.

I am treating myself and others with dignity and respect, which creates a mutual feeling of love and appreciation.

L

et’s look at other attributes that Dan Sullivan says are the hallmarks of class act behavior:

Focus on and improve the behavior of others. Because a class act is a good role model, people around them begin thinking and acting at a level that surprises themselves and others.
Maintain dignity and grace under pressure. You can do this three ways: (1) Remain imperturbable in the midst of chaos. (2) Maintain a calmness that gives courage. Your courage gives others hope that things will turn out all right. (3) Develop and express the quality of certainty that everything is going to be fine.
Counteract meanness, pettiness, and vulgarity. The hallmarks of this characteristic are acting with courtesy, appreciation, respect, gratitude, and a generosity of spirit in all situations.
Expand the meaning of being human. Class acts approach everyone, including themselves, as unique human beings with unique circumstances, and as a result, they constantly find new ways to make life better for themselves and others.

I am acting with class by being courteous and grateful and always having a generous spirit.

Take a good look at your friends, partners, and colleagues—are they class acts? If they’re not, that disparity is a reflection on you. Decide to reinvent yourself as a class act and see if you start attracting different kinds of people. Raise the quality of your attitude and elevate your behavior. When you become a class act, people will want to do business with you and become part of your sphere of influence. They see you as being successful, and they trust you to act with integrity.

Class acts teach others how to treat them—they lead by example. Of course, the first person you should treat with dignity, respect, and esteem is yourself—you’ll teach everyone around you to treat you the same way. If you’re lazy, always late, messy, and don’t care about how you conduct yourself, other people are going to treat you the same way. If you were having the governor or the Dali Lama over to your home, wouldn’t you hire someone to help clean your house and buy the best food you could afford? Well, why don’t you do that for yourself ?

When you start establishing high personal standards and begin treating yourself well, you’ll get better treatment from those around you. Not only that, but you’ll start being invited to places where people with the same elevated standards are.

I am treating others with high regard and making them feel nurtured and loved.

1 You can learn more about Dan Sullivan’s coaching program at www.thestrategiccoach.com.